Catalyst

About Catalyst

Sundance Institute’s Catalyst program builds a culture of partnership between independent investors and filmmakers. Each year, we endeavor to unlock funding for ambitious new independent films and to grow the community of indie-film supporters.

Catalyst brings together both new and experienced film investors through highly curated film financing opportunities, custom programming, and access to the Sundance Institute community. We offer new investors a guided entry into film financing, and we present our entire cohort with exceptional projects, intimate discussions about various aspects of the film business, and personalized support in developing partnerships with filmmakers.

We train selected filmmakers to effectively present their films for independent financing, and we provide them with continued support throughout the lives of their projects. We also offer Catalyst artists guidance in building successful investor relationships, access to mentorship, and critical project, pitch, and budgetary feedback. Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival alumni are uniquely eligible for this opportunity, and applications are solicited by invitation.

Our year-round program includes strategy workshops, artist and industry talks, social events, bespoke film financing opportunities, and the signature Catalyst Forum, a multi-day retreat that features a curated slate of projects seeking funds. As a result of six years of Catalyst gatherings, over $30 million has been raised to support nearly 90 fiction and nonfiction works.

Catalyst Forum Project Criteria

Catalyst Forum (fall 2020) is an invitation-only opportunity for feature-length fiction and nonfiction film projects that meet the following criteria:

Projects must have at least one member of the above-the-line team who is a Sundance Institute alum (someone who has taken a project through a Sundance Institute lab, fund, or fellowship, or has played a previous film at the Sundance Film Festival).
We prefer projects that have at least one U.S.-based member of the above-the-line team, but we will also consider international applicants.
Projects must have a strong producer with at least one feature credit attached. A producer and the director from each project must present together at Catalyst Forum.
Project budgets must not exceed $3 million USD.
Projects must have a budget gap and be open to equity investments and/or granting contributions from multiple individual investors as part of their financing plan. Projects with partial financing in place are welcome and encouraged to apply.
Projects must have preliminary financing plans and be ready to actively engage with financiers. This includes having structures in place to accept funding by the time of the Catalyst Forum, such as a fiscal sponsor or LLC.
Projects can be in any phase of production, including development, packaging, pre-production, production, and post-production.
Fiction only: Projects must have a script in advanced development. Films that have tangible components in place, like a production start date or cast and crew attachments, tend to unlock more funding.
Nonfiction only: Projects must have sample footage to share.
Projects must feature compelling, original subject matter and a distinctive directorial vision.
Resubmissions are permitted if a major element has changed.

Filmmaker Deliverables

If selected, filmmakers will collaborate with the Catalyst team and expert advisors during the weeks leading up to Catalyst Forum in the following ways:

Further developing a viable financing plan to present to investors, and reviewing project budget.
Preparing and rehearsing a live project presentation led by the director and producer that includes the project’s story, footage or still images (if applicable), budget and financing overview, and distribution and outreach plan.
Creating a designed and printed project deck to circulate during meetings with investors.
Building a detailed communications plan to engage with interested and committed investors post-forum.

Applications & Timeline

Catalyst applications are solicited by invitation only. When applying, you will be asked to upload your script (for fiction projects) or supply footage (for nonfiction projects), key team bios, budget total, financing raised and sought, production timeline, and links to previous work, among other key materials.

March 2–June 12, 2020—Application period
Early August 2020—Projects selected
September or October 2020—Catalyst Forum

Past Catalyst Projects

Learn more about our slate of completed Catalyst films below.